Jesus began His ministry in Galilee preaching the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark.1.15). I would like to take the time today to explain those two words; repent and gospel. There is so much misunderstanding as to what those two words actually mean.
The word gospel is derived from two Old English words; gõd and spel, translated into English from the Greek word euaggelion; which means good news. This is the good news concerning Jesus. He is the Christ, a descendent of David according to the flesh, declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. He performed many mighty miracles before men, demonstrating that He came from God. He promised eternal life to everyone who entrust themselves to Him alone by faith. He was then crucified, dead and buried, and then on the third day He arose from the grave defeating death. After His resurrection He first appeared to the women, then to two men on the road to Emmaus (a village outside of Jerusalem), then to Peter, and then to His other disciples. His disciples witnessed His ascension into Heaven and were told by two angles that He would return in the same way in which they saw Him go into Heaven. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father as the mediator between God and man, making intercession on behalf of His sheep; which is everyone who comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Therefore, repent! The word repent is derived from the Old French word repentir, translated into English from the Greek word metanoeo; which means to change one’s mind. This is a total change of mind; it is to have a new nature, to think differently. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is bon again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3.3). Change your mind towards the way you that see God, towards the way that you see your sin, towards the way that you see yourself, towards the way that you see your neighbor, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark.1.15)
